The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-08-12
THE KINGS DAUGHTERS"

The KINGS DAUGHTERS.'
A SlsTERHOoD FOR THE PROMO
TIoN OF BENEVOLENT WORKS.
Remarkable Growth OF tho Order-A
Feminine Counterpart of Rev. Edward
Everett Hale's "Lend Hand" socie-
ties-The Good Work Accomplished.
Ten ladies belonging to New York and
Its Immediate vicinity met one morning in
January, 1886, at the residence of q
Methodist clergyman, whose wife has long
been conspicuous as leader and speaker
In meetings of religious character, and
as connected with evangelistic work. For
several winters this lady, Mrs. Margaret
Bottome, has given what are called ssBible
Talks" in private drawing rooms for the
benefit of society women. These morning
talks" have been SO popular that she has
been invited to address audiences of the
same character in Washington, Philadel-
phia, Brooklyn, and other cities. With
rare power of observation, keen intelli-
gence, and thorough earnestness, Mrs.
Bottome has made many friends, and
when the ladies above alluded to gathered
at her residence to perfect certain plans
for benevolent work during the impend-
ing season she suggested that they should
then and there form themselves into q
sisterhood, taking the name "The Kings
Daughters from the forty fifth Psalm,
where the daughters am described as
"all glorious within.' This suggestion
found immediate favor. All those pres
ent were familiar with the touching origin
of the Lend a Hand society,"" which pos
sibly some of our readers are not ac-
quainted with, and which it may be well
to repeat here as far as necessary.
THE "LEND A HAND"
A few years ago the Rev. Edward E.
Hale, OF Boston, went to q suburban town
to attend the funeral services of one of his
parishioners, dear friend and man Of
noble character. Several members of his
church were with him, and all were de-
tanned by railway accident ut way sta
ton. Naturally they talked of the de-
ceased, his virtues, his charities and ex-
cellent methods of distributing his wealth
In benevolent work. Mr.. Hale had the
happy thought of perpetuating the mem-
ory of thier mutual friend by organizing a
society, brotherhood to carry on his good
works and for the promotion OF all kindly
deeds to their fellow men. There were
just ten Of them present, including Mr..
Hale, and SO he called it the "Ten So
ciety" and "Lend Hand" Whatever
they undertook, it should be SIN His
Name" and their motto should be:
Look up and not down,
Look forward and not back;
Look out and not In,
And Lend Hand
The "Ten" could form other "Tens,"
and SO on, for any form of beneyolence.
Today it may be mentioned, in passing,
this society or brotherhood extends around
the globe, and publishes magazine, Lend
Hand, in its interests, of which DR.. Hale
is the editor. With the knowledge Of
these facts, Mrs. Bottome and her friends
formed their sisterhood, taking the same
motto, and for the main taking the same
methods They added, however, the wear
ing of badge, a small silver cross of the
Maltese form, signifying perfect love,
tied with set Of purple ribbons, signify
ing royalty. Each of the ten ladies agreed
to take some special mission, and each
formed "Ten' to carry it out These
s"Tens'' multiplied rapidly, and on stated
occasions reported progress to the head
center, Mrs. Bottome. There were formed
comforting 'Tens" to visit hospital pa
tients, to read to them and supply certain
Injuries not allowed by the authorities.
Numbers of these unfortunates have been
given the little cross, and some have died
after being ennobled with this order.
Other 'Tens" have gone to the poorest
tenement houses to visit the sick and
dying, while some of the sisterhood have
taken up the wrongs Of working girls and
have been kindly interested in shop girls.
Indeed, there is hardly form of bcnevo-
lence that has not beep adopted by :'The
Kings Daughters. Each little coterie
or '"Ten" has its president, its secretary
dent, with the original officers as her as
sistants.
A REMARKABLE SHOWING.
The first annual meeting Of the society
held very recently at the hall of the
East Fifteenth street, developed certain
remarkable facts in connection with the
organization. Its membership of thou
sands now extends into thirty-three states,
Canada South America, England and
New Zealand. Between 5000 and 1900
members wear the cross and ribbon, some
members possess 1t, but object to wearing
1t. The society is not sectarian; Protest
ants, Catholics, Hebrews alike are sisters,
and there are daughters of all ages, from
sweet sixteen to scventy-six or eighty.
The social status is alike promiscuous, as
the high bred, aristocratic, accomplished
woman Of conventional life and the poor
shop girl are alike ssisters." The very
central point Of the organization is
sisterhood for the performance of kindly
deeds, however small or humble, upon all
given opportunities.
An illustration of the growing influ-
ence of the society was made in the rela-
ton of the fact that all our field daisies,
which now cover our whole country, come
from the accidental dropping of handful
of seed of the "Marguerite' by French
man some seventy years ago. None of
the poorer members of the sisterhood were
present, as the midday assemblage pre-
vented their attendance, but they were
duly and fittingly remembered. Tele-
grams OF congratulations from very dis
tant members were read, some of them
from invalid members, who are also of the
society known as "Shut Ins, numbering
over 10000. Such messages were indeed
very pathetic. A "Ten" of colored mem
bers was present. Miss Leigh, of the
&a1ueIlcan anu EnguSn missions In HarlS,
Was present and avowed her intention Of
forming branch society when she re-
turns to France. Considerable amuse-
ment was occasioned by the reading Of q
report from the ssHold the Tongue Ten,"
the ladies' who have promised not to talk
gossip Of other women-not only not to
talk, but not to shrug the shoulders when
other women's names are mentioned,
which is SO much more cruel than speech.
Circulars were freely given out at the
close of the meeting, printed in purple,
the color of all the printing Of the leaflets
and hymns Of the society, and there was
large sale Of the cross and ribbon, each